Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is funding the establishment and expansion of Medical Triage Lines within 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) under the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model, CFDA 93.381, with the most recent documented opportunity due on May 11, 2021.

The ET3 Model is a voluntary, five-year payment model designed to provide ambulance care teams with greater flexibility in addressing emergency health care needs of Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries. The program funds three interventions: treatment in place, transport to alternative destinations (not exclusively hospital emergency departments), and triage services. The core funding activity supports states, local governments, their designees, and other entities operating or overseeing PSAPs to establish or expand Medical Triage Lines that redirect callers with non-emergency conditions to appropriate care alternatives. The program aims to improve quality of care and lower Medicare costs by reducing avoidable emergency department transports and inpatient admissions.

CMS is offering Cooperative Agreements under this program. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, city and township governments, county governments, special district governments, tribal governments (both federally recognized and not federally recognized), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, small businesses, and for-profit organizations. The solicitation, CMS-2F2-21-001, was posted April 6, 2020 with a due date of May 11, 2021; CMS noted at that time a planned model start delay from May 2020 to Fall 2020 in response to COVID-19 operational needs. The source does not provide recent grant award portfolio data, typical award magnitudes, or information about grant opportunities posted after May 2021, limiting visibility into current program activity and recent funding patterns.